A “Pack Heat to School” bill in Olympia

Nine Republican and two Democratic state representatives in Olympia have introduced legislation that would allow teachers and administrators of public as well as private schools to carry firearms to school.

It is called the “Safer Schools Act” of 2012.

Explaining the legislation, in line with a National Rifle Assn. call for armed protection at all schools, the bill states:

“This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety or support of state government, and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.”

The bill would leave much of the public school decision-making to local school boards. It does carry several requirements for those packing heat to school, or carrying weapons on a school bus:

–Only permanent school employees, teachers and administrators and support staff, would be allowed to pack firearms onto school grounds;

–Teachers, administrators and support staff would have to bring their own guns and supply their own ammunition to school.

–Those packing heat would need to have a concealed weapons permit, and weapons would have to be concealed except when in use. All armed school personnel would be required to have completed a firearms safety course.

Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, the bill’s chief sponsor, wrote on her Facebook page after the Newtown, Conn., killings of 20 first-graders that “Gun Free Zones” around schools turn pupils and teachers into “sitting ducks.” She has attracted two Southwest Washington Democrats as co-sponsors, State Reps. Brian Blake and Dean Takko, D-19th.

Republican sponsors of the “Safer Schools Act” overlap with authors of legislation, introduced earlier this week, that would wipe out any federal regulation of firearms and ammunition manufactured within Washington, and forbid any enforcement of federal gun regulations enacted by Congress this year.

The legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it is not considered likely to pass. Pike is a first-term legislation: She received $900 from the Gun Owners of Washington in her 2012 campaign.

The legislation in Olympia comes as groups seeking to end violence prepare a major march in Seattle, to support such measures as universal background checks, restrictions on the size of ammunition clips, and a ban on certain military-style assault rifles.

The marchers will assemble at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill, and then walk 1.8 miles to St. James Cathedral on First Hill, for a vigil and prayer service.